Suspended tramway



(No Model.)

W. F. ELY.

SUSPENDED TRAMWAY.

Patented Sept. 9, 1884.

tie beams A and to the tie-beams are suslinrrE-n STATES PATENT Grace.

WVILLIAM F. ELY, OF AETON, ASSIGNOR TO ISAAC \V. PARMENTER, OF

SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

SUSPENDED SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,714, dated September 9, 1884.

TRA M WAY.

Application filed July 14, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. ELY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Afton, in the county of ,Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Suspended Tramways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved suspended tramway, the object being to provide an easily-adjustable track,upon which may be run a carrier for transporting earth or other materials for short distances.

It consists of a beam or rail upon which the traveler may run, suspended by means of a swinging adjustable suspending device within an adjustable frame, which may be easily ad justed as to height, and which may be lengthened or shortened at will; and it consists, further, in adding to the frame a protecting shield or guard, in case it is made to cross a street or roadway, the use of the shield being to catch any material which may drop from the carriage and prevent it from obstructing said street or roadway.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a portion of an adjustable frame, a suspended track, and a shield or guard; and Figs. Zand 3 are detached views of the adjustable suspending devices for securing the track in position.

The frame consists of the sills A A, running parallel with the direction of the track and bridged across at intervals of their length by the trusses A A, these trusses being tied together by the ridge piece A The trusses A are preferably made, as shown, with crosspended the tracks, as hereinafter described. The sills A A are supported at intervals of their length by vertical posts B B, made adjustable as to their length, preferably as shown in the drawings, wherein they are made oftwo overlapping sections, 2) b, surrounded by staybands bfland provided with lag screws or bolts 2) to secure them when adjusted. Atie beam or brace, B, may be made to connect each pair of supporting-posts in cases where their height renders such additional bracing necessary.

The track G, suspended within the frame, is

preferably made of a beam of wood, 0, and may be capped with iron strips or rails c, and may be of a shape or size to accommodate any of the well-known traveling carriages now in use, and there may be one or more of these tracks suspended in the one frame. Ipreferably use two tracks, as a much better result in the working may be thereby secured. The hanger or suspending devices for these tracks may be made as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the latter,

however, being preferable, as it allows a more bored to the truss by astirrup or open jaw,

D made to embrace the cross-beam of the truss, and secured thereto by a bolt, (2.

In place of the hanger described there may be used a device, as shown in Fig. 2, wherein the bolt D*, passing through the track-beam, may be extended upward and connected ditectly to the stirrup D by being made to pass through the loop thereof, andprovided with a screw-nut, and this stirrup may be secured to the frame by passing the securing-bolt (1 through the eye of an eyebolt screwed into or attachedto the frame. In either case the end sought is to provide a flexible hanger for the track to allow the weight of the load to retain it in its proper position with regard to the traveling carriage, and to allow of its being lengthened or shortened to adjust the height of the track. In certain cases, as when the track crosses a street, sidewalk, or roadway, it is necessary to keep this street or sidewalk free of all obstructions, and this I propose to do by securing a platform-guard, E, between the supporting-posts B B, i1nmedi ately below the space occupied by the traveling carriage, and to this platform are added the vertical sides E E.

My tramway is used as follows: The sills A, with the trusses in position thereon, are mounted upon the supporting-posts B, andthe latter are adjusted as to length to bring the frame to the proper height. The track or tracks are suspended to the trusses and adjusted to the proper height by the adjustable hangers. The shield E is then plaoedin position, ifitis needed, and the tramway is readyfor the carriage. The brackets or trays for receiving theload are suspended to the carriers, and may either be simple hods or trays, as shown, or may be in the form of an excavating-scoop, or otherwise.

I am aware that a swinging-track has heretofore been used, as in ahayearrier. Therefore I do not claim this idea, broadly.

WVhat I do claim is 1. The eombination,with a suspended trainway, and with the supporting-frame therefor, of adj ustable supporting posts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a suspended tran1way,the combination,

with a rail or track, and with the supportingi'ranie therefor, of a flexible adj ustable hanger, having a chain incorporated within its length 20 to permit of said adjustment, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In asuspended tramway, the combination, with the track thereof, of a flexible adjustable hanger, a vertically-adjustable supporting 2 5 frame, and a platform guard or shield, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Madison, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, this 8th day of July, A. D. 1884.

\VILLIAM F. ELY.

XVitnesses:

AMOS O. RATHBUN, J osnrH W". GENNRY. 

